Who Knew Downloading Software Could Be This Much Fun?
How many nonprofits do you know that like to incorporate the Guinness Book of World Records as part of their marketing efforts?
The Mozilla Foundation’s software-development subsidiary, the company behind the terrific Firefox Web browser and Thunderbird e-mail client, is releasing version 3.0 of Firefox today, and is making a push to set a record for the most software downloads in a 24-hour period. As of this writing, it claims to have more than 1.5 million download pledges worldwide. It shouldn’t be too hard to set the record, as Mozilla has conceded:
This is the first record attempt of its kind so there is no set number. We’d really like to outdo the number of Firefox 2 downloads on its launch day, which was 1.6 million. Let’s shoot for 5 million–the sky is the limit!
That said, they’re completely serious about this, saying it will provide the Guinness folks with:
- Signed statements of authentication from our judges showing that we’ve followed the rules and confirming our numbers.
- Video footage and photographs of our community members hosting Download Fests. Take pictures!!
- Download logs for a sample size of our downloads. We will internally host 10% of the downloads, retaining all of the logs for these downloads, and will use this as our sample set to extrapolate the actual download number and percentage of completed downloads.
What a very cool idea! Granted, most nonprofits don’t have the reach of Mozilla, but by making its newest offering a capital-E Event, the organization is providing a template for groups of all sizes to connect with their publics and spread the word. It’s a pretty simple lesson, really: Leverage the passion your community has for what your provide in order to make more people aware of it. And don’t forget the fun! On the home page for the download-record effort, Mozilla points out how easy it is to participate — to be a world-record participant — and adds:
We’re not asking you to swallow a sword or to balance 30 spoons on your face, although that would be kind of awesome.
Indeed it would. | 501(c)
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